| The spireas would be cut back quite hard in the early spring. This gives them a uniform shape and removes any winter damaged stems. After the first big bloom period you can trim it back lightly to deadhead and encourage more blooms later in the season. Crape myrtles do not require cutting back except possibly in the spring. In late spring when the buds begin to swell, remove any winter-killed wood. This will be brittle, off color brown or gray, and have no green inside the bark. Live wood will be slightly flexible and have plump buds, there will be green inside the bark. Once you have removed the winter damage you may also want to prune selectively at that time to restore symmetry or encourage a pleasing branch framework. This shrub blooms on new growth so do not prune it in the summer. |
